Introduce Yourself
On a recent Sunday evening spent in the company of teenagers, a perceptive girl posed a question that has taken up residence in my heart and mind: “How would you introduce yourself to a stranger?”
The question was prompted by an introductory discussion of the “I am” sayings of Jesus: I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I am the door of the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the true vine. Jesus intended these metaphors to be revelatory, giving his followers insight into his identity. Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus introduces himself to his disciples, the Pharisees, and the crowds that follow him using thought-provoking images.
The teenage girl’s question, initially directed at the youth pastor, gave me pause. How do I tend to introduce myself? What is my default? As the youth pastor noted, what we reveal when we introduce ourselves is often dependent upon the context of the conversation.
When my son was in elementary school, I volunteered regularly in the school’s library. One day a child who I did not know walked up to me and stated, “You are Chaney’s mom.” “Yes, I am,” I replied. “But how did you know that?” “You have the same face,” he explained.
For many years, I most often introduced myself using familial terms: I am Paul’s wife. I am Chaney’s mother. I am Wayne and Bonnie’s daughter. Since I did not work full-time outside the home until I was in my 40s, for a long time I lacked a job title to employ when introducing myself in social settings. When I became an associate pastor, I was relieved to finally have a title to cite to identify myself.
In pondering the teenager’s question, I realized how often my personal introductions are either tied to who I am related to or what kind of work I do. But are those relationships and responsibilities the truest representation of my identity? I don’t think so.
So who am I?
I am . . . a child of God, created by God, in the image of God, deeply loved by God, empowered to be God’s light in the world.
Who are you?
